Tony Bennett, who has had one of the longest careers in entertainment, retired from performing in 2021 at the age of 95. After having to serve in the United States Army during World War Ii, the jazz, big band, and singer became a cultural icon in the 1950s, once he had a No. 1 hit with the famous “Because of You.”
His legacy lasted into the twenty-first century when he played jazz standards with Lady Gaga in 2015 and then again in 2022. Both joint projects received Grammy nominations, adding to his huge total of 19 nominations. Bennett, in addition to music, is an ardent painter who offers his art through his organization Benedetto Arts, which is titled after his previous family name. As a kid, he aspired to be a painter.
Some admirers have acquired autographs that have been customized in some way.
Tony Bennett’s interests in music and art have intersected during his life. Lady Gaga’s trumpet tattoo, which she had inked on her left arm in 2014, is an illustration of this. Bennett sketched the trumpet she used during the tattoo, including Benedetto’s autograph. He drew a photo of her for the front of their 2021 record “Love for Sale,” which moved her to tears. (via Entertainment Weekly)
Bennett has also used his artistic abilities to help non-famous followers, painting portraits of several of them when people request his autograph (via Best Life). An admirer shared a drawing of Bennett’s brother from 1994 on Imgur. Bennett’s unique style in fan contact shows that the traditional adage “Never meet your heroes” doesn’t really relate to him.
Check the sketch below: